Fashion retailer French Connection slumped to a £6.3 million half-year loss today as it warned shareholders its recovery was “likely to take some time”.

The group vowed to improve ranges, sharpen prices and close loss-making stores following a review of its UK retail business, which suffered a 9.5 per cent fall in sales and weakened margins amid heavy discounting.

The group is understood to be considering the closure of up to 15 of its 70 stores in the UK.

Its “disappointing” performance in the UK and Europe meant it slipped to a pre-tax loss of £6.3 million in the six months to July 31, compared to a profit of £700,000 in the previous year.